Do-Fluoride Reports 20%-30% Rise in Semiconductor HF Prices
Do-Fluoride New Materials said market prices for semiconductor-grade
hydrofluoric acid have risen by approximately 20%-30%, while its
40,000-tonne annual capacity is operating at a high utilization rate. The
figures were disclosed in a recent investor-relations record and reported by
Securities Times.
The company also reported stable batch supply of its G5-grade product to
TSMC, Samsung, Hua Hong and CXMT. These statements describe information
provided by Do-Fluoride; they are not independent confirmations from the named
customers.
What Happened
Do-Fluoride attributed the reported price increase mainly to higher costs
for upstream anhydrous hydrofluoric acid, including a sharp increase in
sulfuric acid costs. It said semiconductor-grade hydrofluoric acid represents
a small share of total chip-manufacturing cost but is difficult to substitute,
making consistency and supply stability important to customers.
The company said the price and profit outlook will depend on future prices
for sulfuric acid, fluorspar and other upstream materials.
Verified Context
According to the same company disclosure, Do-Fluoride currently operates
annual production lines for 12,000 tonnes of electronic-grade ammonia, 6,000
tonnes of electronic-grade ammonium fluoride and 4,000 tonnes of
electronic-grade silane. National Business Daily
also reported these operating figures and the customer-supply statement.
The announced expansion plan includes raising electronic-grade ammonium
fluoride capacity to 9,000 tonnes, adding a 3,000-tonne BOE etchant line and
advancing a 10,000-tonne electronic-grade phosphoric acid project in Hubei.
Do-Fluoride also said it is planning lines for tungsten hexafluoride,
hexafluorobutadiene and other high-end electronic gases.
CII Analysis
In our assessment, the disclosure points to two separate issues. The first
is cost transmission: if the price increase is mainly driven by sulfuric acid
and other feedstocks, its durability may depend more on input prices and
customer negotiations than on a structural shortage of hydrofluoric acid. The
second is product expansion. Moving from wet electronic chemicals into
deposition and etching gases could broaden Do-Fluoride’s position across more
semiconductor process steps, but announced capacity does not itself establish
commercial scale. Qualification, construction progress and repeat customer
orders remain the relevant tests.
What to Watch
- Realized selling prices and margins in the company’s next financial report.
- Changes in sulfuric acid, fluorspar and anhydrous hydrofluoric acid costs.
- Construction and qualification milestones for tungsten hexafluoride and
other specialty-gas lines. - Any confirmation from customers or additional disclosures on shipment
volumes.
